Car Bomb Hits Southern Beirut, Killing 18

Explosion Tore Through Stronghold of Hezbollah Group

BEIRUT—A car bomb ripped through southern Beirut, killing at least 18 people and trapping dozens in buildings engulfed in flames, in the largest attack against a Hezbollah stronghold in Lebanon since the Shiite group became involved in the war in neighboring Syria.

The bombing—five weeks after a smaller bomb targeted a Hezbollah-controlled district nearby—set cars and balconies ablaze, leaving behind the charred corpses of those caught in the fire, according to witnesses. The explosion injured more than 290 people,...